The aircraft arrived after completing a surveillance mission over Poland. NATO said the mission supported its commitment to maintaining situational awareness and safeguarding Allied territory.
The deployment was part of NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept. The concept is intended to improve operational flexibility, resilience and survivability by enabling forces to operate from dispersed locations.
NATO said the ability to deploy and sustain AWACS operations from multiple air bases strengthens readiness. It also supports the Alliance’s collective defence posture across its territory.
Major General Jonas Wilkman, Swedish Chief of the Air Force, welcomed the NATO AWACS aircraft. He highlighted its contribution to NATO air surveillance, command and control and collective defence capabilities.
NATO E-3A Component Commander Brigadier General Kristen D. Thompson expressed appreciation for Sweden’s role as co-host of Exercise Ramstein Flag 2026. She also recognised Sweden’s support for NATO’s Agile Combat Employment initiatives and its contribution to enabling the deployment.
To mark the occasion, Thompson presented the Swedish Air Chief with a NATO flag. The flag was signed by the aircrew who conducted the aircraft’s first landing in Sweden.
NATO AWACS is supporting Ramstein Flag this week. NATO described the exercise over the Scandinavian countries as a high-value training event.
The AWACS aircrew serve as airborne battlespace managers. Their role includes integrating different aircraft types from several NATO nations as they train together.
NATO said the AWACS is a key element of the Alliance’s command and control structure. It supports Exercise Ramstein Flag by providing air battle management and real-time situational awareness.
The aircraft is operating from its Deployable Operating Base in Šiauliai, Lithuania. NATO said command and control assets enable the planning, direction and execution of large-scale and complex air operations.
Additional command and control capabilities are also supporting the exercise. These include French AWACS and the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre, both deployed to Kallax Air Base in Sweden.
The Combined Air Operations Centre in Bodø, Norway, is also supporting the exercise. NATO said these assets contribute to the coordination of air operations during Ramstein Flag.
